English 2 Course Syllabus
Mrs. Reece
Room 95
Course Description: English II is a survey course of World Literature. Students will read in a variety of formats and will receive weekly instruction in grammar and composition as well as vocabulary development. The focus is on sharpening reading, analysis and critical thinking skills. English 2 literary and informational texts create awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity. The course is also designed to prepare students for the rigor of the South Carolina State Standards for College and Career Readiness and the state-administered End of Course Exam for English.
Course Objectives and Standards:
-The student will read and demonstrate understanding of a variety of literary and informational texts. The student will write for a variety of purposes and audiences and will create work that has a clear focus, sufficient detail, coherent organization, effective voice, and correct use of the conventions of written Standard American English.
-The student will use word analysis and vocabulary strategies to read fluently.
-The student will access and use information from a variety of sources.
SC State Standards- http://tinyurl.com/zckwzvg
Assessments and Grading Plan: Major Assessments 60%; Minor Assessments 40%; Final Exam 20%
Grading Scale: A (90-100); B (80-89); C (70-79); D (60-69); F (59 and below)
Greer High School Makeup Policy: At a minimum, students may receive up to 75% on minor assignments turned in 1 day late. At a minimum, students may receive up to 50% on minor assignments turned in 2 days late. This policy does not apply to students who are absent for instruction. When considering absences, teachers will assign a reasonable amount of time for students to make up assignments that does not exceed 5 days.
Textbooks:
Elements of Literature: Fifth Course, Holt, Rinehart, Winston
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt- Collections (10)
Vocabulary Workshop: Level E, Sadlier
Major Literary Works:
We will begin the semester with a short story unit from the textbooks above. Below is a comprehensive list of major works we will choose from for subsequent units. We will read as much as we can in the time allotted!
Jason Reynolds, Long Way Down
Long Way Down (2017) by Jason Reynolds is a young adult novel in free verse about Will Holloman, a young black boy struggling to make a decision after his brother Shawn is shot dead in the street. Will plans to seek revenge, but before he can leave the elevator of his building, he is greeted by a series of ghosts who challenge his perspective on his brother's death and everything he has learned.
William Shakespeare, Macbeth
One night on the heath, the brave and respected general Macbeth encounters three witches who foretell that he will become king of Scotland. At first skeptical, he’s urged on by the ruthless, single-minded ambitions of his wife, Lady Macbeth, who suffers none of her husband’s doubt. But seeing the prophecy through to the bloody end leads them both spiraling into paranoia, tyranny, madness, and murder. This shocking tragedy - a violent caution to those seeking power for its own sake - is, to this day, one of Shakespeare’s most popular and influential masterpieces.
Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Guy Montag is a fireman and his job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities in this future world, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and his wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But when he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known.
Reginald Rose, 12 Angry Men (film)
This award-winning courtroom drama opens at the conclusion of the closing arguments in a murder trial. All of the action takes place in the jury room as the 12 members of the jury deliberate. A guilty verdict will mean death for the accused, an inner-city teen. As the dozen men try to reach a unanimous decision, one juror casts considerable doubt on elements of the case. Personal issues soon rise to the surface, and conflict threatens to derail the delicate process that will decide one boy's fate.
Materials Needed: Notebook, preferably a spiral notebook, for daily journals. Loose-leaf notebook paper for assignments to be turned in, pencils, blue or black ink pens.
Classroom Procedures and Rules.
Be PUNCTUAL—In your seat when the bell rings, in class bell to bell.
Be PREPARED—Bring materials daily.
Be POLITE— Respect instructor (including subs, guests, etc.) and all classmates at all times. Verbal abuse, class disruption, and non-compliance are not tolerated. Be quiet and attentive during announcements. Cell phones, iPods, and other electronic devices are to be turned off unless being utilized for classwork at the teacher’s instructions. No food or drinks other than water. Respect the classroom and its contents. Make sure your area is picked up before leaving.
PARTICIPATE—Engage in your own learning at all times. Listen when appropriate and speak when appropriate. Active participation is expected. Listen when someone else is talking. Sleeping or putting your head down is out of the question. Please ask for extra help if you need it. I am available before and after school by appointment.
Parents should feel free to contact me with questions or concerns, and I will do the same:
Gala Reece
Email: greece@greenville.k12.sc.us
Phone: 355-5753